So when I asked the BB guy how many they got at a time, without blinking said 4 - 5. Now I can see why the stores keep selling out. Did Mr. Jobs really think people would not want the device? He mentioned that during the OS 4.0 event. Was Apple really surprised by the demand?

No but production capacity has to be carefully balanced. You don't want to build production capacity for an early rush that drops down after a few months. If you go that route your production lines are not running efficiently. Usually companies target a steady state of demand for production capacity.

I know people think Apple can just flip a switch to make more but that just isn't how it works.

No but production capacity has to be carefully balanced. You don't want to build production capacity for an early rush that drops down after a few months.

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A good example of this is the Nintendo Wii. People still go on about them creating an artificial shortage as a marketing maneuver when in reality they have been balancing supply with an efficient production schedule. A company doesn't want a million units of inventory sitting at retailers when demand tapers off from initial levels.

Some of us don't have an Apple store closer than 2 hours by car. Course I do hate BestBuy and their no-nothing employees.

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For the crappy wages they pay BB employees you want phenomenal product knowledge?

I while back I worked for Radio Shack, I was very knowledgeable about audio/video/electronics and rarely fielded a question I couldn't answer. One day I had some Ham radio operator berate me for not knowing some off the wall HAM question. I tried to explain to him that I didn't have a license (which was basically required) and he pissed and moaned about the lack of "Help". I explained that if I were in "expert" in everything, I doubt Radio Shack could afford me or they would have to charge more for their products. I was making slightly over minimum wage at the time.

Better for Apple to have too much demand and not enough supply than the other way around. Excess inventory costs money and they'd take a big hit on that in the news too. If you're an Apple PR exec, would you rather see "Apple struggling to keep up with high iPad demand", or "Apple iPad a flop; warehouses full of iPads can't be sold"? Because that's just what they'd say.

Apple stores are running out of stock for the 16 GB model. I had to call around to find one.

What I really want to be in stock is the Apple case. I have yet to find it.

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MI  stores have zero stock/ and give nothing at all in terms of information of when shipments are due, or how many they get. I am beginning to think by this weeks attempts, that they get a ton of orders for in-store pick up; and fill them with the small shipments they do get.

So I called around (Atlanta). All of the Stores and BB stores are out of stock. I know in another thread some folks believe that the next shipment (along with the 3G) will be on the 23rd. So much for having the thing before I travel.

I suspect each Best Buy store only got a few as that is all the corporate ordered for them. BB is not on the best financial standing with it's creditors from what I understand and lack the credit required to get hundreds sent to each store.

I don't buy anything from these sleazy people after they repackaged a camera and sold it to me as new! I kind of like to fill out my own warranty card with my own name and not someone else's!

I went to the Duluth, GA Best Buy store on release day, just to check it out (I'm waiting for a 3G).

The sales girl (OMG cute!) said that they sold a bunch of 16GB units that morning because that's all they got in initially, but then around 11am they received a PALLET full of units...

It seems like initial shipments were decent, it's the replenishment that's been the problem - they are only getting a couple at a time.

Weren't there reports back in Feb/March about production problems with the screens? Maybe Apple just wasn't able to get as many built before release as they had hoped to? Plus, I'm sure the demand is higher than they were expecting... Especially for the Wifi only models.

Anyhow, things are going to be even more crazy when the 3G models come out. While I have access to several Apple stores here, I'll be buying at BBuy so I can put it on m BBuy card and get the reward zone points. You can bet I'll be at the Duluth store EARLY that morning!

I went to the Duluth, GA Best Buy store on release day, just to check it out (I'm waiting for a 3G).

The sales girl (OMG cute!) said that they sold a bunch of 16GB units that morning because that's all they got in initially, but then around 11am they received a PALLET full of units...

It seems like initial shipments were decent, it's the replenishment that's been the problem - they are only getting a couple at a time.

Weren't there reports back in Feb/March about production problems with the screens? Maybe Apple just wasn't able to get as many built before release as they had hoped to? Plus, I'm sure the demand is higher than they were expecting... Especially for the Wifi only models.

Anyhow, things are going to be even more crazy when the 3G models come out. While I have access to several Apple stores here, I'll be buying at BBuy so I can put it on m BBuy card and get the reward zone points. You can bet I'll be at the Duluth store EARLY that morning!

A good example of this is the Nintendo Wii. People still go on about them creating an artificial shortage as a marketing maneuver when in reality they have been balancing supply with an efficient production schedule. A company doesn't want a million units of inventory sitting at retailers when demand tapers off from initial levels.

Click to expand...

While I agree with you, I'm not sure the Wii is a good example. It was 2009 before I ever actually saw one in a store. Not that I was still actively looking by that time.

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